Workers’ Comp Permanent Partial Disability Settlement Amounts In Wisconsin

permanent partial disability

Wisconsin has thousands of job-related accidents every year and many serious injuries. How much you receive for your workers’ compensation settlement in Wisconsin depends on how severe the injuries are and when and if you can return to work.

To get more information about permanent partial disability claims, speak to our Waukesha County workers’ comp lawyers at Gillick, Wicht, Gillick & Graf to assist with your claim.

What Is Permanent Partial Disability (PPD)?

PPD is the functional impairment of a body part because of a work injury. PPD claims are the most common that are filed in Wisconsin and in most states.

Benefits are typically paid after you have reached the best possible outcome of healing. When you have reached maximum medical recovery, your doctor will evaluate if you have a permanent partial disability. If so, you will be assigned a rating for the injured body part.

In Wisconsin, PPD benefits are capped, and the maximum PPD rate depends on the year of the injury. The calculation is specific to the body part and pays a lower rate than for temporary total disability.

How PPD Is Calculated

The amount you receive for PPD is 2/3 of your average weekly wage, but the maximum is less than for a temporary disability, and the state does not raise it yearly. As of Jan. 1, 2023, the maximum benefit is $430. If you return to work, you can still receive benefits. If you cannot earn 85% of what you earned before you were hurt, you might have an additional claim to compensate for your earnings loss.

PPD Duration For Scheduled Loss Of Use

Did you lose the use of a body part included in the state’s PPD schedule? Then you will receive benefits for the weeks listed in the schedule. The schedule mainly lists extremities but also eyesight loss and hearing loss. The number of weeks is multiplied by a specific amount assigned to the specific body part.

For example, if you have a partial loss of use of a body part, your benefits are provided for a proportionate period. If you lost 50% of the use of the left hand, your benefits would last for half of the maximum listed in the schedule. The PPD schedule by body part includes the following:

  • Entire arm: 500 weeks
  • Arm at the elbow: 450 weeks
  • Entire hand: 400 weeks
  • Leg at the hip joint: 500 weeks
  • Leg at the knee: 425 weeks
  • Entire foot: 250 weeks
  • Loss of one eye from an accident: 275 weeks
  • Total loss of hearing from an accident: 330 weeks

If the affected body part is not on the schedule, the time length for PPD payments is determined by multiplying the percent impairment rating by 1,000 weeks. For example, if you have a 35% impairment rating, the total payment length would be 350 weeks.

Common Workers’ Compensation Questions

Wisconsin workers’ comp claims can be complex, so questions are common. Some of the most frequent questions about Wisconsin workers’ compensation are:

What If My Wisconsin Employer Will Not Pay Benefits?

If benefits are denied, you should contact the lawyers at Gillick, Wicht, Gillick & Graf to see if your claim can be appealed.

Do I Need To Sign A Release For Full Medical Records?

After you get a workers’ comp attorney, you should have all correspondence done through your lawyer. It is common for some insurance adjusters to get information that might seem unimportant from you. But it could damage your case, so listen to what your attorney says.

What If The Insurance Company Denies My Claim?

Workers’ comp insurance companies can devise reasons to deny benefits, especially if you have no lawyer. For example, they might say you didn’t give proper notice or that your injury was unrelated to work. Or they could ignore you. But, if your claim has been denied, do not despair. Our Waukesha County Workers’ Comp lawyers will protect your interests.

What If My Company Does Not Have Work For Me?

If you have a permanent partial disability, wage loss, and permanent restrictions, you could receive more benefits if the injury is to your torso, back, neck or head.

How Does My Workers’ Comp Attorney Get Paid?

A workers’ compensation attorney is paid when the claim is resolved and will receive 20% of the amount of compensation you get. So, you do not typically pay out-of-pocket costs for an attorney to represent you.

How Long Do I Have To File A Claim In Wisconsin?

It is always advisable to report your injury in an incident report with your employer as soon as you know about it. In most Wisconsin workers’ comp cases, claims can be filed within 6 years of the date you were injured or the final date of a compensation payment, whichever was later.

Contact Our Waukesha County Workers’ Comp Lawyers

If you were injured on the job and out of work, do not try to get PPD workers’ compensation on your own. Instead, speak to our Waukesha County workers’ comp lawyers today at Gillick, Wicht, Gillick & Graf for immediate legal assistance by calling (414) 257-2667.

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